Ilhabela is an island just across from Sao Sebastiao,
there are several nice beaches and also some hotels and pensions on the
island. Unfortunately it is also the home of the "borrachudo" which is
a small mosquito-like insect that can bother you, especially at dusk! (at
left the small secluded beach in front of the hotel, in the back the main
coast).
It is in Sao Sebastiao that the Whitbread sailing
race around the world stopped on their way back to Europe.
The Whitbread fleet a couple of weeks before the start in March 1998. EF Language, the all girl's boat, had just arrived and was under repair, see someone up the mast, in the back Ilhabela.
The start from the Brazil to Ft. Lauderdale leg
was a fantastic experience, thousands of boats on the water, nice friends
on a solid motor yacht to follow the fleet, it was really great!
A couple of hours after the start, rounding the
southern tip of Ilhabela, Chessie racing shines in the late afternoon sun.
Ef Language, the girl's team in the Whitbread.
Another week end, another style...
If you take the north road, that is turning left when you leave the ferry, you will first cross the little town called once Villa Bella (Map of the island 1912), and then you can go as far as the bay of Jabaquara, a four wheel drive would be great as the last part is not paved! But you can also get there by boat, a far nicer experience.
Well, this is all for now, next will come Parati, a small colonial town half way between Santos and Rio.
Still in construction! (16.04.2000)